California Pizza Pioneer Debuts Cheesy Vegan Pie

California-based pizza chain Straw Hat Pizza—which has been in operation since 1959—will add its first fully vegan pizza to the menu of participating locations this month. The Garlic Artichoke Vegan Master Pizza features a gluten-free crust that is topped with olive oil, artichoke, garlic, red onion, tomato, and vegan cheese. The chain added the vegan pie, along with new vegan-friendly appetizers, after identifying growth of vegan options—driven by millennial and Generation Z customers—within the pizza industry. “The new Garlic Artichoke Vegan Master Pizza is a really tasty pizza,” Straw Hat director of operations Scott Mason said. “We hope it finds a core group of customers that enjoy it as much as we do. It is important to have options for all members of the family when they go out to eat.” The chain—which currently operates 25 locations in California and Nevada—plans to open several new franchise locations in California starting in late 2018. Both international pizza chains (such as Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Piola), and smaller operations (such as WisePies Pizza & Salad) have recently adjusted their menus to capitalize on the growing global demand for vegan options.